Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Benicio]

Forgot about the Gypsy Kings version of Hotel California.

They get a free pass because they really put their own stamp on it.
They really went for something different and succeeded.

It's like when Reel Big Fish did the rippin' ska version of A-ha's "Take on Me". They did it their own way and it rocked.

When a band tries to do Stairway or Hotel California just like the original, it just comes out bad. Don't even try it!

As for Mr. Roboto, my best friend plays in an 80's old wave band back home. They are really good, but when the crowd is just not responsive, they threaten to play Mr. Roboto. If the crowd is still not responsive, then they get Mr. Roboto in all its ridiculous glory.
It's hilarious!

[Steelrails]

Good list so far Benicio.

The thing I can't stand about Zombie is its invariably some chick who has a horrible voice singing it.

Another song that falls into this category is Sweet Home Alabama- terrible for Kareoke. VERY FEW people can nail the chorus and make it sound alright. Of course it always gets played.

For some reason whenever someone sings A Lover's Concerto they are always really good at it but everyone seems to get restless.

1979 by the Pumpkins gets butchered too. It seems a lot of people at Kareoke do not seem to think about how easy a song is to sing before they get up there.

Bohemian Rhapsody, Piano Man, and Living on a Prayer again are mandatory and therefore overplayed. And then there is always the kid who goes way overboard on RATM's Killing in the Name of.

The biggest foul- people who try to match the pitch of singer rather than singing to their own voice. Better to sing at an octave down than to butcher something at the octave of the artist. Invariably they insist that they are amazing at kareoke and rip on some schmoe who has the sense to take it down an octave.

"Dude that guy didn't sound anything like him."

"Uh yeah, but he was in tune."

"No he wasn't. His voice was too low! Now watch and listen to me!"

"More Beer here- FAST"

[kiknkorea]

[Greekfreak]

[Khenan]

I've been a RH fan for years, and I've never liked Creep. It's just not a good song! I'm not a great singer, but after years of singing along drunk at parties with my friends, I can nail a fair few of their songs.

A couple weeks ago, I met up with a Korean kid, who's in university and is a neighbor of mine. He plays guitar, which is how I met him. Anyway, he, his friend (playing an African stand drum), and I were out on the street near Gangnam stn playing some songs for kicks. People walking by were fracking amazed that people were playing music on the street. It cracked me up. Anyway, eventually, some girl asked for Creep. It was bound to happen. What else could I do? I belted out the best version I could.

[fortysixyou]

I KNOW!

I'm in a band with a chick lead singer.

And you know what? EVERY gig we play, she INSISTS that we play "Zombie".

I try to veto it and replace it with something cool, like "All These Things I Have Done" by the Killers, or "Say It Ain't So" by Weezer. Or "Trampled Under Foot" by Led Zep.

She says, "No...Koreans love 'Zombie'."

Do they? I sure don't love it.

I roll my eyes, then when we play it I do my best to steal the thunder with my guitar work, feedback-a-go-go, bendy whammy, beating the strings into oblivion, humping the half stack, ANYTHING to liven that song up.


It's such a boring, shitty song. There's so much better stuff out there.


As for "Creep", it can be done appropriately. It should only be played in times of absolute necessity. I played an acoustic show last year in Ilsan and the crowd was REALLY digging it. Then I threw "Creep" in and there was a collective orgasm.

Still, you're right. When I hear other bands playing it, I don't like it. I always think, "Yeah yeah why don't you play something off OK Computer or something more relevant...?"

"Creep" is (was) an amazingly powerful song. But Spiderman's uncle taught us that with great power comes great responsibility.

[Benicio]